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Aug. 11, 1964 Filed June 20, 1960 T. H. KRUEGER, JR

ARCHED STRUCTURE 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. Theodore H.Krueger.Jr.

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Aug. 11, 1964 Filed June 20, 1960 T. H. KRUEGER, JR 3,144,103

ARCHED STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Theod,oreH.Krueger.Jr.

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ATTORNEYS 1964 T. H. KRUEGER, JR 3,144,103

ARCHED STRUCTURE Filed June 20, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 8 a, 3 f r: s, s I" I 3 3 FIGJZ FIG l3 a a Q m N s l 2 H q- U. l N INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,144,103 ARCHED STRUCTURE Theodore H. Krueger, Jr., Mapledale Road, Orange, Conn. Filed June 20, 1960, Ser. No. 37,395 4 Claims. (Cl. 189-1) This invention relates to arch construction suitable for roofs, ceilings and the like and is in the nature of an improvement on the construction disclosed in my application for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 5,531, filed January 29, 1960. Said application discloses an arch construction, one form of which comprises a plurality of quadrilateral plate members which are bent outwardly along one diagonal of the quadrilateral, so as to form a dihedral angle. The space contained between the folded sides of the plate may be considered geometrically as an elongated tetrahedron.

A series of these bent plates are arranged side by side so that the line on which the plates are bent lie in the same plane. A second series of plates similarly arranged are then interleaved with the first series of plates so that the inclined side edges of the quadrilaterals or tetrahedrons will coincide. The angle between the two planes in which the fold lines of the respective series lie will depend upon the angularity of the sides of the tetrahedrons so that each series of plates will be displaced with respect to the adjacent series, thus producing an arch. If the quadrilateral form of the plates is symmetrical, then what would in eiiect be a circular arch will be produced by a series of chords corresponding with the fold lines of the plates. If the quadrilaterals are unsymmetrical, so that the angle between the edges of the plate at one side of the transverse diagonal of the plate differs from the angle between the edges at the other side of the transverse diagonal, the adjacent series of plates being similarly angled, a different angular displacement of the chords will be produced thereby resulting in an arch formation of non-circular character.

In the construction of my aforesaid application, when a complete quadrilateral or tetrahedral form is utilized, the plates in the case of arches of wide span have to be made very long as otherwise suflicient depth to the span between the outer and inner boundaries thereof (considered radially) may not provide sufiicient resistance against radial deformation of the arch.

In accordance with the present invention, the elements of the arch are formed by truncated plates which may be considered as quadrilateral form with their ends cut oif so that the resulting geometrical solids enclosed between the bent-up sides of the plate may be regarded as tetrahedrons truncated or cut-oif at each end. This provides relatively shorter elements from which an arch may be constructed from shorter plates while still securing the requisite radial depth of arch for adequate resistance against deformation. Preferably, the plates are cut-oif so that the geometrical contained solids are truncated tetrahedrons bounded at their ends by planes radial to the arch. This may be accomplished by having the ends of the plates in the form of two short edges with a re-entrant angle between them. Thus, the actual preferred form of the plate is an eight-sided figure with two pairs of long diagonal edges which are united to the diagonal edges of adjacent series of plates and two pairs of short re-entrant edges which join the re-entrant end edges of alternate plates of the next series.

The general object of the invention is to provide an arch construction of lightness and strength which can be produced from numbers of similar plates of sheet metal, plastic or the like.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of examples of the invention.

hl i hlfi Patented Aug. 11, 1964 In the accompanying drawings FIG. 1 is a plan view of an arch illustrating one form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the arch;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the arch;

FIG. 4 is a perspective View of a portion of the arch;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of an arch showing the same provided with an outer shell;

FIG. 6 is a plan view; FIG. 7 a side elevation; and FIG. 8 is an end elevation of a plate constituting one element of an arch;

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing an arch element of un symmetrical shape associated with a cooperating shorter element, this and similar elements being capable of being combined so as to form an arch of changing radius of curvature;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of part of an arch of such changing radius;

FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 are end views showing different formations of elements having differently arranged flanges which may be welded, bolted or otherwise secured together for forming an arch;

FIG. 14 is a plan view of a blank from which the element shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 may be formed by bending along a longitudinal axis.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the arch 20 of the present invention may be used as a roof, ceiling or vault either exteriorly or interiorly of the building, being particularly adapted to forming a large arch roof for covering a space Without the use of auxiliary supports between the side walls 22 of the structure. The arch is composed of a plurality of elements 24 each comprising a plate which may be of sheet metal, plastic or the like, bent or angularly formed about alongitudinal axis 26. Each element or plate is in the form of a truncated quadrilateral having diagonal edges 28 that will mate with the edges of elements of adjacent series and having ends shaped to mate with the ends of adjacent elements in alternate series. A preferred form of element is shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, and where a series of identical elements is used throughout the arch, an arch of circular curvature will be produced, such as that indicated in FIG. 2. The span and form of the arch will depend upon the relationship of the length l of the element, the width w of the element, the angle a between the longitudinal axis 26 of the element and the longer diagonal edges 28 of the element and the dihedral angle b at which the sides of the element are bent around the longitudinal axis. In order to secure proper fit between the ends of adjacent elements, the elements, the element ends are preferably formed so that in their angular form the adjacent ends will lie in a plane 2 radial to the curvature of the arch. This will result in the formation of the ends of the elements by two short edges or connecting flaps 30 and 32 which form a re-entrant angle between them, the angularity be ing defined by the angle 0 (FIGURE 14) between the end edge and the longitudinal axis 26 of the element. If the element is formed by bending a flat plate, the shape of the fiat plate will be as shown in FIG. 14, and the angles a and c of the flat plate will be related to the corresponding angles a and c of the bent element, as a function of the dihedral angle 11 to which the flat plate is bent in being formed into the angular element. Thus, the transverse width w of the blank and all the angles and dimensions necessary to lay out the blank may be readily calculated.

When it is desired to change the curvature of the arch a row of unsymmetrical plates 34 (FIG. 9) is introduced each of which is longer at one side of the transverse axis (at w) than at the other side thereof, so that the long diagonal edges 28 will mate with the similar edges 28 of elements 24, while the shorter and steeper diagonal edges 36 will mate with similarly angled edges 36 of a row of shorter elements 38. This will result in a change in curvature, as indicated in FIG. 10; and by properly choosing the'dimensions of the rows of plates it will be seen that any desired curvature may be secured. In the plates shown in FIG. 9 the angle between the shorter diagonal edges 36 and the longitudinal axis is designated a. The edges 30 and 32 will be of the same length at each end of the plate. The angularity between the end edges and the axis will depend upon the curvature of the arch at the particular point where the element is to be introduced.

The edges of adjacent plates may be joined in any suitable manner as by simple butt welding, but preferably the plate is provided with marginal flanges or connecting flaps 40 which will project laterally so as to overlap, as shown in FIG. 11, which may be bent downjoined by brazing, Welding, riveting, lock seaming, or in any other suitable manner.

The end edges of adjacent plates are joined in a manner similar to the side edges, but by using connecting flaps 30 and 32. The connecting flaps 30 and 32 either project laterally or are bent upwardly or downwardly in a manner similar to the flaps 40 (see FIGS. 11 to 13).

The arched structure, when the elements are properly united, may itself form a water-tight roof or ceiling, as

shown in FIG. 4, or it may be covered by a sheath 50, as

"shown in FIG. 5. Braces extending axially of the structure may be provided at as frequent intervals as may be necessary to prevent alteration of the form of the elements by possible flattening of the dihedral angle, thereby insuring maximum rigidity of the structure. These braces are welded or otherwise fastened to the edges of each element. in FIG. 4, while FIG. shows a series of braces, one for each row of elements.

It will be seen that with the construction described an arched structure of any desired dimensions and characteristics may be built. By making elements relatively wide with respect to their length, any depth or thickness (indicated at d (FIGURE 2) between the inscribed and circumscribed circles) may be secured. Also, by proper relationship between the lengths of the elements and the angularity of the adjoining edges of elements, any desired curvature of the arch may be secured, as already described. It the plates are thin and flexible, more bracing as indicated by the braces 52 is required than if the plates are of sufficient thickness and rigidity to be self-sustaining in shape.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be understood that changes may be made therein and the invention embodied in other structures. It is not, therefore, the intention to limit the patent to the specific con- One such brace is shown at 52 structions illustrated but to cover the invention broadly in whatever form its principles may be utilized.

What is claimed is:

1. An arched structure of interleaved series of elements, the elements being formed of plates shaped to form dihedral angles about the longitudinal axes of the plates, each plate having two longitudinal diagonal edges at each side of the longitudinal axis, said edges being reversely inclined from the middle towards the ends of the plate, the plate being narrower at the ends than in the middle, and short angular end edges arranged to form a re-entrant angle at each end of the plate, the apices of the re-entrant angles lying in the longitudinal axis of the plate, in which in at least some of the series of elements, each plate is unsymmetrical about a transverse axis so that the longitudinal diagonal edges at one side of the transverse axis are shorter and at a steeper angle than the longitudinal diagonal edges at the other side of the transverse axis.

2. An arched structure formed of interleaved series of elements, the elements being formed of plates shaped to form dihedral angles about the longitudinal axes of the plates, each plate having two longitudinal diagonal edges at each side of the longitudinal axis, the edges being reversely inclined from the middle towards the ends of the plate, the plate being narrower at the ends than in the middle, the ends of the plates in each series being of the same width as the ends of the plates, in the adjoining series, and having short angular end edges arranged to form a re-entrant angle at each 'end of the plate, the apices of the re-entrant angles lying in the longitudinal axes of the plates, the matching re-entrant angles at the ends of the adjacent plates being of such angularity in respect to the longitudinal axes of the plates that the adjoining short angular edges between any two plates will lie in a plane corresponding with the radius of curvature of the arched structure at points where such reentrant angular edges meet.

3. An arched structure as claimed in claim 2 in which the diagonal side and end edges of the elements are provided with mating junction flanges.

4. An arched structure as claimed in claim 2 in which the plate portions at opposite sides of the dihedral angle are connected by a brace so as to prevent deformation of the dihedral angle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 263,835 Atterbury Sept. 5, 1882 1,697,519 Weaver Jan. 1, 1929 9 2,073,358 Williamson Mar. 9, 1937 2,736,072 Woods Feb. 28, 1956 2,918,151 Kennedy Dec. 22, 1959 3,026,651 Richter Mar. 27, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 299,954 Switzerland July 15, 1954 France Feb. 9, 1959 

2. AN ARCHED STRUCTURE FORMED OF INTERLEAVED SERIES OF ELEMENTS, THE ELEMENTS BEING FORMED OF PLATES SHAPED TO FORM DIHEDRAL ANGLES ABOUT THE LONGITUDINAL AXES OF THE PLATES, EACH PLATE HAVING TWO LONGITUDINAL DIAGONAL EDGES AT EACH SIDE OF THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS, THE EDGES BEING REVERSELY INCLINED FROM THE MIDDLE TOWARDS THE ENDS OF THE PLATE, THE PLATE BEING NARROWER AT THE ENDS THAN IN THE MIDDLE, THE ENDS OF THE PLATES IN EACH SERIES BEING OF THE SAME WIDTH AS THE ENDS OF THE PLATES, IN THE ADJOINING SERIES, AND HAVING SHORT ANGULAR END EDGES ARRANGED TO FORM A RE-ENTRANT ANGLE AT EACH END OF THE PLATE, THE APICES OF THE RE-ENTRANT ANGLES LYING IN THE LONGITUDINAL AXES OF THE PLATES, THE MATCHING RE-ENTRANT ANGLES AT THE ENDS OF THE ADJACENT PLATES BEING OF SUCH ANGULARITY IN RESPECT TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXES OF THE PLATES THAT THE ADJOINING SHORT ANGULAR EDGES BETWEEN ANY TWO PLATES WILL LIE IN A PLANE CORRESPONDING WITH THE RADIUS OF CURVATURE OF THE ARCHED STRUCTURE AT POINTS WHERE SUCH REENTRANT ANGULAR EDGES MEET. 